Moistening device.



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l UN ITED STATES Patented ovember 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.-

PAUL J. ALWART, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

SFEClFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,455, dated November17, 1903.

' Application filed January 26, 1901. Serial No. 44,769. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, PAUL J. ALWART, a citizen of the United States, andaresident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented an Improved Moistening Device, of which the following is aspeciiication.

This invention relates to devices for moistening gummed surfaces, andrelates particularly to devices for moistening or dampening the gummedsurfaces of postage-stamps, en-

velops, labels, andthe like.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for this purposewhich will be of siniple and cheap construction and which may beconveniently attached in operative position to the hand of the person'using it.

To this end a moistening device of my invention consists of the variousfeatures, combinations of features, and details of constructionhereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings a meistening device of myinvention is fullyillustrated.

Figure l is a perspective view showing my improved moistening devicesecured to a hand in operative position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view ofmy improved moistening device, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional viewof the pad thereof. A moistening device of my invention consists of apad A, comprising absorbent material, as sponge or felt, to which wateror other fluid is adapted to be supplied from a bulb B through a tube C.

As preferably constructed the pad A consists of a plate or back aofsuitable size and shape and made of suitable thin sheet material,assheet-brass, tin, or the like. Secured to one side of said plate orback a is a layer d of suitable absorbent material, as sponge, felt, orthe like. Said absorbent layer a can be conveniently securedto said backor plate a by turning the edges of said back or plate a in such mannerthat the edges of said absorbent layer a will be clampet` between thebody of the back or plate a and the turned edges thereof, as shown ata2.

My improved moistening device also preferably comprises means forattaching the pad A to a linger of the person using it in position forconvenient use. As shown, said means consist of a ring a3, secured tothe plate or back a.. Said ring a3 is preferably made eXpansible, so asto fit fingers of different sizes. To effect this, said ring, as shown,is made of spring metal and is attached tothe plate or back at one endonly, leaving the other end free and unattached.

The bulb Bis preferably of a size that may be conveniently held in thepalm of the hand-- say an inch and one-half in diameterand is adapted tobe secured in the palm of the hand by means of a band b, passing overthe hand. The band b is preferably elastic and is attached to the bulbB, so that it Will pass over said bulb and subject it to a pressuresufliciently strong to expel the water there- .from and keep the padAmoist without otherwise squeezing said b ulb. My invention,hoW ever,contemplates making the band b inelastic and squeezing the bulb Bwhenever it is desired to meisten the pad A.

The tube C preferably comprises sections c c', the section c beingrigid, being preferably made of metal, hard rubber, or the like andbeing secured to the pad A and extending along the back or plate ct,With its inner end terminating about the center of the absorbent layer aand its outer end projecting at the side of the pad A, vso that thesection c', which is preferably flexible, being made of soft rubber, maybe conveniently attached thereto.

I claiml. Inahand device for moistening gummed surfaces, the combinationof a pad having means for attachment toa finger of the hand, acollapsible bulb designed to be held in the palm of said hand andadapted to vcontain liquid, and ashort flexible tube connecting the padand bulb, substantially as described.

2. A hand device for moistening surfaces comprising a pad having afinger-loop, a collapsible bulb, a short flexible tube connecting thepad and bulb, and an elasticband proportioned to pass about the bulb andhand and press the bulb against the palm, substantially as described. i

A hand device for moistening surfaces In testimony that I claim theIoregoing asy comprising an elastic bulb, a pad, and a short myinvention I have hereunto set my hand flexible connecting-tube, 'saidpad consisting this 19th day of January, 1901.

of a rigid back having a resilient finger-loop PAUL .I ALVART. 5attached thereto at one end only, and a face lVitnesses;

or body of absorbent material, substantially I C. J. 'BROUGHTON,

as described. J. H. LAMOUREUX.

